Regulator for electric circuits.



No. 885,416. PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906.

' E. W. COUCH.

REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1905 Z'SHEETS-SHEET l.

s coy, WASHINGTON. u. c

No. 8353416. PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906.

E. W. GOUGH. REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY6,1905.

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a Eye/m W 6000/1 w 0% V/LWWQ M 40, preferably a polarized armature, pivotally mounted at 41 on the relay. This mov able member is electrically connected by a conductor a2 to the main M. The arrangement is such that whenthe movable member 410 is moved to the right contact is made simultaneously with both the terminals 28 and 36, and when moved to the left sinmltaneous contact is made with both the terminals 28 and 35. The element member 10 is normally in a central position between the poles of an electromagnet 43, which electromagnet has its coil -14 connected across the mains M M The movable member is kept in a central position against the attraction of the electromagnet 13 when normally encrgized by a spring 45 in conjunction with a counterweight &6, which permits of adjustment.

Referring further to the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, it will be seen that when the magnetism of the magnet 43 increases above the normal, such as would be the case when the voltage was too high, the lower end of the armature -10 would be attracted to the right, so that the terminals 28 and 36 would be electrically connected with the main M. The connection of the terminal 28 with the main M would result in a current flowing from main M through conductor 42, arma ture 40, contact 28, terminal 24, core 22, solenoid-winding 2-1, brush 8, base 9, conductor 38 to the main M This would raise the core 22 so as to cause an electric contact to be made between terminals and 26, thus connecting one terminal of each of the solenoids 17 and 18 with the main M hen the core 22 is raised to the full limit, the engagement with contact 24 is broken. The engagement with terminal 26 is made before contact with 24 is broken. The core 22 is in the meantime withdrawn from the hole 23 in the base 9 and the insulation 23 upon a movement of the arm 10 prevents its again falling until the next hole is reached, and thus maintains the engagement between contacts 25 26. hen the next hole 23 is reached, the core 22 will fall if the armature 40 is not in engagement with either contact 28 28, since the solenoid 21 will be denergized. A movement of the arm 10 is brought about tlu'ough the action of one of the solenoids 31 32, the proper one being selected by the engagement of the terminals 35 or 36. The terminal 36 is engaged by the movable member a0 when it moves to the right and is thus put into connection with the main M, a circuit being thus completed through the solenoid 32. As the core 34 of this solenoid is raised it makes electrical contact with the termmal 30. Since the cores 34 are always electrically connected with the main M by the conductor 34, this engagement of the core 34 with the terminal completes an electric connection from the main M through i l l l l l 1 l l g l the core 3 1, terminal 30, winding of solenoid 18, terminals 25 and 26, brush 8, base 9, conduetor 38 to the main M thus en ergizing the solenoid 18. This would move the arm 10 so as to cut out one or more of the generating elements. The arm would continue to move until the normal potential was reached.

In case the potential across the mains falls so that the spring 45 overcomes the attractive force of the electromagnet 4:3 and the polarized armature -10 moves to the left. so as to make engagement with the terminals 28 and 35, putting them into electrical connection with the main M, the solenoid 21 would be energized as belore. In this case, however, the solenoid 31, being coi'itrolled by the terminal 35, would be energized. This would result in causing the core 33 of that solenoid to make contact with the terminal 29, thus completing an electric circuit l'rom the main M through the solenoid 17 to the main M. It will thus be seen that if the potential rises -unduly the magnet i3 will be so energized as to attract the armature 11) to the right against the action of the spring 15, which would release the switch-arm 10 and energize the solenoid 18,with the result that one or more of the generating elements would be cut out until the normal potential was reached, while if the potential falls the armature 10 moves to the left and the solenoid 17 is energized so that the elements are cut in.

If after the switch-arm 10 is moved one step the armature 4d) still remains in contact with one of the terminals 28 or 28 and 36, the same operation is immediately repeated. If, on the other hand, it is away from these contacts, the arm 10 remains in its fixed position, as above described.

The reason for inserting the two small solenoids 31 and 32 in the circuit instead of connecting the solenoids 17 and 18 directly across the contacts 35 and 36 is that it isnecessary that after the arm 10 has once started it shall continue in its motion until it reaches the next intended point In other words, it must never be left stranded between any two points, which would occur if the solenoids 17 and 18 were connected directly across the contacts 35 and 36 and if the armature 40 ceased to make contact at 35 or 36 after the arm had started on its travel but before it reached the next locking position. This is rendered impossible by means of the small solenoids 31 and 32, and the fact that after electric contact is once established thleugh the movement of either core that core is carried by the moving arm so as to be moved past one of the projections 29 and 30 so as to be mechanically prevented from falling in case the engagement with the terminals 28 and 35 or 28 and 36 is broken. In this way the electric contact between the solenoidcores 33 and 34 and the terminals 29 and 36 when once established eleetromagnetically ICC is maintained mechanically until the switchsolenoids, one at a time, means for locking arm has been moved a full step of its throw or until the next locking position is reached. When this movement is completed, the solenoid 33 or 34 is mechanically released so that the circuit through the solenoid 17 or 18 is broken until reestablished by a suitable movement of the polarized armature 40.

It is of course understood that in moving from any contact 1 to 7 to another the switch-arm must overlap two contacts, the same as in any ordinary rheostat, in order to avoid interrupting the circuit entirely. Since in overlapping two contacts, however, the cell contained between those contacts is short-circuited, a large rush of current is apt to result unless some special form of contact is provided. I therefore provide a supplemental contact 50, connected through the high resistance 51 to the contact member 8, but otherwise separated from the contact 8 by insulation 52. In this construction as the member 8 leaves the contact the member 50 is still in connection with it and the short circuit which would result takes place over and through the resistance 51, which is made sufficient to prevent a short circuit at the low potential of one cell, but whose resistance is low enough to make no perceptible difference in the electromotive force of the circuit during the instant the change is being made from one position to another.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in my apparatus the elements are automatically out in and out, as required, so as to maintain thepotential constant, and means are provided for insuring that an element shall be completely out in or cut out, or, in other words, means are provided whereby the switch-arm is always moved a complete step.

My invention permits of various modificatiens and applications, such as will be evi dent to those skilled in the art.

hat I claim is 1. In a regulator for electric circuits, the combination of a series of contacts, a switcharm adapted to make engagement therewith, two power-solenoids adapted to be separately energized, two cores therefor connected together and to said switch-arm, a relay for closing the circuit through said solenoids one at a time, means for maintaining the circuit through either of said solenoids closed until a full step of said arm has been completed whenever such circuit has been closed and the switch-arm has moved a part of a step, said means being independent of circuit conditions.

2. In a regulator for electric circuits, the combination of a series of contacts, a switcharm adapted to make engagement therewith, two power-solenoids adapted to be separately energized, two cores for said solenoids connected together and to said switclrarm, a relay for closing the circuits through said said switch-arm at the end of each step and a solenoid for releasing said. locking means whenever the circuit through one of said power-solenoids is closed.

3. In a regulator for electric circuits, the combination of a series of contacts, a switcharm adapted to make engagement therewith, two power-solenoids adapted to be separately energized, two cores for said solenoids connected together and to said switch-arm, a

relay for closing the circuits through said solenoids, one at a time, means for locking said switch-arm at the end of each step, a solenoid for releasing said locking means whenever the circuit through one of said power-solenoids is closed, separable contacts controlling both of the circuits of said power solenoids, and a support for causing said locking means when withdrawn to maintain the circuit of the energized power-solenoid closed at said contacts, until a full step of said arm is completed. 7

4. In a regulator for electric circuits, the combination of a series of contacts, a switch arm adapted to make engagement therewith, two power-solenoids adapted to be separately energized, two cores for said solenoids connected together and to said switcharm, a main relay, auxiliary relays controlled thereby for closing the circuits through said powersolenoids, one at a time, contacts in the circuits through said power-solenoids closed by said auxiliary relays when. energized, mechanical stops for maintaining said contacts in engagement during a full step of said switch-arm when the circuit through one of said power-solenoids has been completed and said switch-arm has made a partial movement.

5. In a regulator for electric circuits, the combination of a series of contacts, a switcharm adapted to make engagement therewith, two power-solenoids adapted to be separately energized, two cores for said solenoids connected together and to said switch-arm, a main relay, auxiliary relays controlled thereby for closing the circuits through said power-solenoids, one at a time, separable contacts in the circuits of said power-solenoids adapted to be brought into engagement when said auxiliary relays are energized, means for maintaining said contacts in engagement during a full step of said switch-arm when the switch-arm has been partially moved, said means being independent of circuit conditions.

6. In a regulator for electric circuits, the combination of a series of contacts, a switcharm adapted to make engagement therewith, two power-solenoids adapted to be separately energized, two cores for said solenoids connected together and to said switch-arm, a main relay, auxiliary relays controlled thereby for closing the circuits through said power-solenoids, one at a time, tromagnetic device, said locking member separable contacts in the circuits of said power-solenoids adapted to be brought into engagement when said auxiliary relays are energized, means for maintaining said stops in engagement during a, full step of said switch-arm when the switch-arm has been partially moved, means for locking said switch-arm at the end of said step, and a solenoid for releasing said locking means whenever one of said power-solenoids is energized.

7. In a regulator for electric circuits, the combination of a series of contacts, a switcharm adapted to make engagement therewith, two power-solenoids adapted to be separately energized, two cores for said solenoids connected together and to said switch-arm, a main relay, auxiliary relays controlled thereby for closing the circuits through said power-solenoids, one at a time, separable contacts in the circuits of said power-solenoids adapted to be brought into engagement when said auxiliary relays are energized, means for maintaining said contacts in engagement during a full step of said switcharm when the switch-arm has been partially moved, means for locking said switch-arm at the end of said step, a solenoid for releasing said locking means whenever one of said power-solenoids is energized, additional separable contacts in the circuits of said power-solenoids and stops for causing said locking means when withdrawn to maintain the circuit of the energized powersolenoid closed at said additional contacts, until a full step of said switch-arm is completed.

8. In a regulator for electric circuits the combination of a series of contacts, a switcharm adapted to engage therewith, electromagnetic means for actuating said arm, an electromagnetic device carried by said arm and a locking member actuated by said eleccontrolling the circuit through said electromagnetic actuating means.

9. In a regulator for electric circuits the combination of a series of contacts, a switcharm adapted to engage therewith, electromagnetic means for actuating said arm, an electromagnetic device carried by said arm, a locking member actuated by said electromagnetic device, and separable contacts in the circuit of said electromagnetic means con.- trolled by said locking member.

10. In a regulator for electric circuits, the combination of a series of contacts, a switcharm adapted to engage therewith, electromagnetic means for actuating said arm, an electromagnetic device carried by said arm, a locking member actuated by said electromagnetic device, separable contacts in the circuit of said electromagnetic means con trolled by said locking member, and means for maintaining engagement between said contacts during a full step of said arm when said contacts have been brought into engagement and the movement of said arm has begun.

11. In a regulator for electric circuits, the combination of a series of contacts, a switcharm adapted to engage therewith, electromagnetic means for actuating said arm, a circuit for said electromagnetic means, contacts for making and breaking said circuit, an electromagnetic device for causing said contacts to engage, said electromagnetic device being carricd by said arm, and means for holding said contacts in engagement when they have once been brought into engagement and the movement of the arm has begun.

EDGAR W. GOUGH.

IVitnesses:

H. B. BRowNELL, L. VREELAND. 

